Published: Saturday, March 9, 2013 at 7:51 p.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, March 9, 2013 at 7:51 p.m.

Bruce and Shawn Prete had enough to worry about when Bruce Prete's cancer advanced so much that hospice care was needed. It was just too much to worry also about Molko, their beloved 10-year-old Wheaten Terrier.

The Dundee couple got help from the nonprofit Pet Peace of Mind program.

Already operational in Lake and Orange counties, it recently made its debut in Polk County through Cornerstone Hospice in Winter Haven.

"His hair got really long and honestly we couldn't afford to get him (groomed)," Shawn Prete said. "The hospice told us about this new service and a wonderful lady named Alice came and (groomed) him, trimmed his nails and did the whole works — all for nothing.''

Prete, 54, is on an unpaid family and medical leave from her job at Wal-Mart to help with her husband's care.

"The hospice people also brought over some Flea Advantage and a two-month supply of that. It really helps a lot when you don't have the money to spend, and we're grateful."

Experiencing an illness so severe that hospice is needed can place tremendous stress on a patient's mind. Not only do questions about the future arise, but one's schedule can become crowded with doctor appointments, not to mention financial worries for their loved ones' lost time at work.

Pet Peace of Mind volunteers take on the responsibilities of caring for the pets of Cornerstone Hospice patients who need help.

They can feed, walk and play with the pets and even transport them to veterinarian appointments if necessary.

And, perhaps most reassuring to hospice patients, they take the animals to visit their owners at nursing facilities and hospitals.

Patrick Kline, 57, of Winter Haven is a caregiver for his mother, Jacqueline Kline, 87, who is battling cancer. He also cares for Chewy, his mother's 2-year-old chocolate Labrador.

Kline said he greatly supports any effort that keeps hospice patients with their beloved pets because he sees firsthand the difference pets have made in his mother's life during this difficult time.

"They bring joy and happiness, they're good company, they make me laugh and they make her laugh," Kline said. "They provide security for my mother. The Lab follows her all over the place and has even caught her from falling a few times because he's so big. I like the idea of this program because it enables people to not be alone."

Hospice patients can access the services of Pet Peace of Mind simply by reaching out to their nurses, who act on their behalf to request assistance.

Manny Hernandez, chief information officer for Cornerstone Hospice, said he's seen how Pet Peace of Mind's services have put patients' minds at ease.

"They love it because these are patients who have a terminal illness, and a patient with a terminal illness has a number of time constraints — going to the doc for MRIs and labs, they may have to go into the hospital for two or three days," Hernandez said. "But here comes Pet Peace of Mind. We have volunteers who are willing to take pets in for a few days. This really helps hospice patients take care of their pet during a moment of need."

The program's volunteers say they are blessed, too. Jeff Vose of Winter Haven and his wife, Joyce, got involved with the program because it was a way to offer a lot of help at one time.

"My wife and I volunteer for hospice, and Cornerstone Hospice has several different programs that help people," said Vose, who is retired from State Farm Insurance.

"When they came up with the idea for this program, we loved it. In the program, you go into a patient's home and we help with their pets. We walk them, bathe them, and we do this because we want to help the patient and we love animals."

<p>Bruce and Shawn Prete had enough to worry about when Bruce Prete's cancer advanced so much that hospice care was needed. It was just too much to worry also about Molko, their beloved 10-year-old Wheaten Terrier.</p><p>The Dundee couple got help from the nonprofit Pet Peace of Mind program. </p><p>Already operational in Lake and Orange counties, it recently made its debut in Polk County through Cornerstone Hospice in Winter Haven.</p><p>"His hair got really long and honestly we couldn't afford to get him (groomed)," Shawn Prete said. "The hospice told us about this new service and a wonderful lady named Alice came and (groomed) him, trimmed his nails and did the whole works — all for nothing.''</p><p>Prete, 54, is on an unpaid family and medical leave from her job at Wal-Mart to help with her husband's care. </p><p>"The hospice people also brought over some Flea Advantage and a two-month supply of that. It really helps a lot when you don't have the money to spend, and we're grateful."</p><p>Experiencing an illness so severe that hospice is needed can place tremendous stress on a patient's mind. Not only do questions about the future arise, but one's schedule can become crowded with doctor appointments, not to mention financial worries for their loved ones' lost time at work. </p><p>Pet Peace of Mind volunteers take on the responsibilities of caring for the pets of Cornerstone Hospice patients who need help.</p><p>They can feed, walk and play with the pets and even transport them to veterinarian appointments if necessary. </p><p>And, perhaps most reassuring to hospice patients, they take the animals to visit their owners at nursing facilities and hospitals.</p><p>Patrick Kline, 57, of Winter Haven is a caregiver for his mother, Jacqueline Kline, 87, who is battling cancer. He also cares for Chewy, his mother's 2-year-old chocolate Labrador.</p><p>Kline said he greatly supports any effort that keeps hospice patients with their beloved pets because he sees firsthand the difference pets have made in his mother's life during this difficult time.</p><p>"They bring joy and happiness, they're good company, they make me laugh and they make her laugh," Kline said. "They provide security for my mother. The Lab follows her all over the place and has even caught her from falling a few times because he's so big. I like the idea of this program because it enables people to not be alone."</p><p>Hospice patients can access the services of Pet Peace of Mind simply by reaching out to their nurses, who act on their behalf to request assistance.</p><p>Manny Hernandez, chief information officer for Cornerstone Hospice, said he's seen how Pet Peace of Mind's services have put patients' minds at ease.</p><p>"They love it because these are patients who have a terminal illness, and a patient with a terminal illness has a number of time constraints — going to the doc for MRIs and labs, they may have to go into the hospital for two or three days," Hernandez said. "But here comes Pet Peace of Mind. We have volunteers who are willing to take pets in for a few days. This really helps hospice patients take care of their pet during a moment of need."</p><p>The program's volunteers say they are blessed, too. Jeff Vose of Winter Haven and his wife, Joyce, got involved with the program because it was a way to offer a lot of help at one time.</p><p>"My wife and I volunteer for hospice, and Cornerstone Hospice has several different programs that help people," said Vose, who is retired from State Farm Insurance. </p><p>"When they came up with the idea for this program, we loved it. In the program, you go into a patient's home and we help with their pets. We walk them, bathe them, and we do this because we want to help the patient and we love animals."</p>